Ben Dunk and Tim Paine steered Tasmania to a solid score on the first day of their Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in Hobart, but both men missed the chance to reach triple-figures. Tasmania were in some trouble at 4 for 118 when Dunk and Paine came together for a 143-run fifth-wicket partnership and by stumps, the Tigers had moved on to 6 for 299 with Luke Butterworth on 15 and Evan Gulbis on 7.

All of Tasmania's top four made starts but none passed the 30s as Sean Abbott, Trent Copeland and Doug Bollinger kept them in check. But Dunk and Paine then dug in for a strong stand that pushed the score along to 261 before Dunk was bowled for 89 by Sandhu, missing the opportunity for his maiden first-class hundred.

It was Dunk's fourth half-century in the Sheffield Shield this summer and it moved him to fourth on the Shield run tally. Paine lasted a little longer before he was caught off the bowling of Copeland for 78, missing out on the chance for his second first-class century and his first since 2006-07.